Senate to write academic
code
By Dave Stephens
and
Laura Pelner
Purdue doesn’t lack integrity, but it does
lack an academic integrity code.
That could all change next semester when the Student
Affairs Committee of the University Senate writes and proposes a new
honor code for Purdue students.
"The Student Affairs Committee has always
had as a major issue the idea of an academic integrity code," said
Olivia Bennett Wood, chairperson of the Student Affairs Committee. "But
we’re still at the planning stages so far; next semester a lot
more will be decided."
Wood, an associate professor of foods and nutrition,
said the committee hasn’t even decided what the integrity code
will entail, but it will probably be a modified version of other university
honor codes.
Wood said the main reason why an academic integrity
code is being considered is to help persuade students not to cheat.
According to research done at other universities,
schools with a strong academic integrity code were shown to have a lower
percentage of students who cheat, said Wood.
Thomas Robinson, vice president for student services,
said the code would help clarify academic dishonesty issues.
"This is an issue that this committee has
discussed on and off this academic year," said Robinson. "The
committee agreed this is kind of a priority for the next year."
Wood said she hopes to get students input about
the new code and hopes that the student body will support it.
"We want to make Purdue as strong a University
as possible," said Wood. "That’s going to require everyone’s
involvement."
Wood also hopes to work with Purdue Student Government
and other student organizations to get University-wide support behind
the academic integrity code.
Wood said the committee is planning on working
on the document during the summer months and during the first months
of the fall semester. She said the committee hopes to have a completed
document to present to the University Senate near the end of the first
semester next year.
Wood said the new document looks to have a huge
impact on education at Purdue and will require changing the University
regulations.
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